Hardwood floors are beautiful and contribute massively to making for a warm, classy and elegant home.
Hardwood floors are also classically tough and hard-wearing, however, this type of flooring still requires regular cleaning like every other floor does.
Steam mops are a great way of removing dirt and grime from the floor of tiled and polished flooring. It comes with an easy pump action that uses heat and hot water to sear through the dirt and get your floor super clean.
But can you use them on hardwood floors? How easy are these steam cleaners to use? Is there any preparation that you have to do before you apply your steam heater to your floor?
SO MANY QUESTIONS!
Well, settle in and start scrolling – we’ve got all the answers you need when it comes to steam cleaning your hardwood floors.
What Is A Steam Mop?
A steam mop is a mop like no other (thank you Romi Haan).
Not only do they use water to clean the floor, but as the name implies, they also heat the water to create steam to help soften, remove and lift dirt and grime that can accumulate on your floor.
This might not be so good with dust, but it can help to clean up any stubborn surfaces that have deeper set stains on a marble or tile floor. This is also great for cleaning the grout in between your tiles.
Steam mops are also great for getting rid of bacteria and dust mites that might have taken hold in your bedroom or living room. This is one of the fastest and more sanitary methods of cleaning your floor.
This type of mop also doesn’t use much water, so it’s not only eco-friendly but is also less likely to cause the surfaces that you’re cleaning to warp if they are sensitive to water.
Are Hardwood Floors More Durable?
Hardwood floors are known for being very durable and very easy to clean.
Regular sweeping of your hardwood floors is a great habit to get into as the dust is easy to spot (particularly if you have waxed hardwood floors), and it will save you from having to do deeper cleans (i.e. steam cleaning) frequently.
However, the question still begs – can you use a steam mop on your hardwood floor?
The answer is, thankfully, yes.
Now we’ll give you a more detailed explanation of how you can combine these two for a really effective clean.
How To Use A Steam Mop On A Hardwood Floor
There are a few things that you’ll have to do to prep your hardwood floor before you start steam cleaning it.
Here is a step-by-step guide for steam cleaning your hardwood floor – start to finish:
| - | Products Mentioned In This Article | A Quick Look | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Handheld Portable Vacuum |
| Check Latest Price |
 | Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop |
| Check Latest Price |
 | HAVENLAB Deionized Water | Check Latest Price |
(NOTE: You’ll find a few of our favorite products for this type of clean in the table above. The Shark Steam Mop is our best value/performance pick for hardwood floors).
1.) Dust The Floor Completely
This will remove all sorts of dust that will often get trapped in the fiber of your steam mop and spread them around rather than removing the dirt completely.
2.) Attach The Microfiber Cloth To The Bottom Of Your Steam Cleaner
3.) Set The Steam To A Lower Pressure Setting
4.) Slowly Wipe The Surfaces To Completely Sanitize Your Floor
Getting into every corner will be very important if you want to get rid of grime – grime loves to gather in corners!
5.) Wait Until The Cloth Is Dark With Dirt
6.) Remove The Microfiber Pad
Once you are finished with the microfiber cloth, unclip it from the main body of your steam mop. Most steam cleaner pads are reusable and can be put through the washing machine to be thoroughly cleaned.
Now, let’s dive into some quick FAQ to cover any questions you might still have
FAQ:
How Often Should You Steam Mop Your Hardwood Floor?
If this is an area where a lot of people happen to be walking through, then you should probably want to steam mop this part of your floor weekly. If it’s tucked away a bit and doesn’t get much foot traffic – you’ll probably get away with a few steam cleans per month.
If your hardwood floor is near a transition area where people are coming from outside to inside, then there might be a higher degree of muck and dirt that will accumulate in this passage. Then you might want to clean this area at least once a week.
If you spot any dirt or grime build up at any point – get to cleaning it as soon as possible. These issues are much easier to deal with when dealt with quickly!
Why Are Steam Mops Better Than Ordinary Mops?
The fact that they use pressurized steam to heat, soften and get rid of the dirt on the floor makes it one of the quickest and most sanitary methods of cleaning.
Should You Recycle Your Steam Mop Pads?
You should be able to put most steam mop pads in the washing machine and then the tumble dryer for a quick and easy cleran – ready to use for the next clean
| - | Products Mentioned In This Article | A Quick Look | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Handheld Portable Vacuum |
| Check Latest Price |
| Shark S3501 Steam Pocket Mop |
| Check Latest Price |
| HAVENLAB Deionized Water | Check Latest Price |
Conclusion
As you can see, you definitely can steam clean your hardwood floors. In fact, it’s probably one of the best cleaning methods available!
We hope that this article has given you everything you need to get your floors back to a squeaky clean condition.
Happy cleaning!
If you liked this story, have a look at our guide on how to vacuum stairs.